James roche



(No Model.)

J. ROCHE, MASTEB'KBY LOCK.

Patented May 22, 1894.

ml NAM mm mm,

imam Bic,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ROCHE, OF TERRYVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO EAGLE LOCK COMPANY,OF SAME PLACE.

MASTER-KEY LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,121, dated May 22,1894.

Application filed July 10, 1893. Serial No. 430,025. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ROCHE, of Ter ryville, in the county ofLitchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented anew Improve ment inMaster-Key Locks, (Case A;) and I do hereby declare the following, whentaken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in

Figure 1, a view in inside elevation of a padlock constructed inaccordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached view of the cover ofthe said padlock; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the lock showing theco-operation of its individual or special key with its tumblers; Fig. 4,a similar but less comprehensive view showmg theco-operation of themaster-key with its tumblers; Fig. 5, a detached perspective view of oneof the tumblers of the lock; Fig. 6, a view in inside elevation of adesk-lock constructed in accordance with my invention.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of locks known asmaster-keylocks, which are locks constructed in series, and adapted tobe individually operated by special keys, and collectively operated by auniversal key known as the master-key, so that while the special keywill not lock any other lock of the series, the master-key will unlockevery lock in the series, the object being to produce a simple, compactand efiective lock, of few parts, and not liable to derangement.

With these ends in view my invention conslsts in a fiat-tumblermaster-key lock having one or more of its tumblers constructed with twodistinct operating faces, respectively adapted to co-operate with twodifferent keys and arranged parallel with each other upon one of itsedges.

My invention further consists in a masterkey lock having certain detailsof construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

My invention may be applied to fiat-tumbler master-key locks of whateverform or construction, but I have thought it sufficient to illustrate itsapplication to padand desk locks.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, I have shown the applicationof my invention to a padlock which is of ordinary construction, exceptas to its flat tumblers A, each of which is constructed with twodistinct parallel operating faces a a, extending, as herein shown,throughout its outer edge. The faces a of the respective tumblers areconstructed to be operated upon by the bits of the individual key B,while the faces a of the respective tumblers are designed to be operatedupon by the universal or master-key C. Of course, if desired, thisarrangement might be reversed, for the operation of the bits of theindividual key upon the faces a, and the bits of the master-key upon thefaces a. When the two operating faces of the tumblers are arrangedparallel with each other, as shown, each key may be rotated in the lookthrough a full rotation. One or more of these tumblers may be employed,and if desired all of them may be of the special construction described.As herein shown, the lock is provided with three tumblers, all of whichare constructed with two operating faces. The inner operating face a,may be set within the upper or lower face of the tumblers, as desired.As shown herein, it is set within the upper face of the outer tumbler,but within the lower face of the two inner tumblers. The padlockcomprises besides these tumblers, a slotted key-cylinder D, a bolt E, alockingdog F, a hasp G, a hasp-spring H, a case I, and a cover J, all ofthe parts last mentioned being of ordinary construction, and not needingspecific description. It will be understood that a series of thesepadlocks are made, and that the bearing surfaces at of their tumblerswill be constructed or combined dissimilarly, so that a special key willbe required to open the individual locks, while on the other hand, theoperating surfaces a of the whole series of locks will be constructedand combined in the same way, so that one universal or master-key willoperate all of the locks. That is, as before mentioned, the principle onwhich looks of this class are made.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have shown a desk-lock of ordinaryconstruction except as ICQ to its tumblers K, one or more of which have1 two distinct parallel operating surfaces It and m in the said plate.

70' formed upon its outer edge, and arranged to co-operate on theprinciple described for the padlock, with special and master-keys. Thelock in question also has abolt L, a plate M, having a selvage h and isfurther provided with a cover, which is not shown, but which is securedin place by being provided with lugs, which enter the elongated openingsA detailed description of this look is thought to be unnecessary, inview of the fact that its construction is well known. It will be seen,too, that it is not essential that more than one of the tumblers beprovidedwith two operatingfaces, althoughby preference all of them willbe so constructed, as it increases the complexity and efficiency of-thelook without materially adding to its expense, greatly enlarging therange of combination or differentiation.

The two locks shown and described will illustrate my invention, which itis apparent may be applied to other types of locks belonging to the sameclass of fiat-tumbler locks.

Although I have used the term parallel to indicate the relativearrangement of the two operating faces of the tumblers, I do not wish tobe understood as meaning that the two faces of each tumbler are parallelin the sense that they coincide with each other, but use the term in abroad sense to mean that they are parallel in their general direction orextend alongside of each other on the same edge of the tumbler. It willbe apparent that in dilferentiating between locks constructed inaccordance with my invention for securing difierent combinations, theparticular forms of the operating faces will be varied, and that theymay depart from the coincidence shown, for instance, in Fig. 5. It willbe readily understood that either of the faces of the same tumbler maybe widely varied without in any way interfering with the other face,which is an advantage I derive from having the faces arranged parallelor along-,

side of each other-instead of in line and merging into each other attheir inner ends.

would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to theexact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within thespirit and scope of my invention. I am aware,however, that a master-keylock having tumblers adapted to be operated upon at different points byspecial and master-keys respectively, is old, and I do not claim thatconstruction broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A flat-tumbler master-key lock having one or more of its tumblersconstructed with two distinct parallel operating faces formed upon itsouteredge,substantiallyas described.

2. A flat-tumbler master-key padlock having a case, hasp, bolt, dog,key-cylinder and tumblers, one or more of the latter being constructedwith two distinct parallel operating faces, respectively adapted toco-operate with two different keys, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specificationin the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES ROCHE. Witnesses:

H. B. PLUMB, GEo. W. CRosLEY.

